M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week (Sept. 12)
NEW ORLEANS – Cross country is back in full force!
Here are our M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week for September 12!
- NCAA Division I Men – Abdirizak Ibrahim, Florida State
- NCAA Division I Women – Addie Engel, Ohio State
- NCAA Division II Men – Talel Khalfi, Tiffin
- NCAA Division II Women – Lindsay Cunningham, Winona State
- NCAA Division III Men – Michael Skutt, St. Lawrence
- NCAA Division III Women – Lauren Bunke, Lebanon Valley
- NAIA Men – Brint Laubach, The Master’s (Calif.)
- NAIA Women – Hannah Fredericks, The Master’s (Calif.)
- NJCAA Division I Men – Adem Bouldjadj, Butler (Kan.) CC
- NJCAA Division I Women – Damaris Chewon, New Mexico JC
- NJCAA Division II Men – Michael Dennis, Lansing (Mich.) CC
- NJCAA Division II Women – Olivia Ippel, Lake Michigan CC
- NJCAA Division III Men – Parker Stoner, Thaddeus Stevens (Pa.)
- NJCAA Division III Women – Kylynn Frankford, Thaddeus Stevens (Pa.)
Find out more about each of these athletes by scrolling below.
National Athlete of the Week is an award selected and presented by the USTFCCCA Communications Staff at the beginning of each week to 14 collegiate cross country athletes, when applicable (male and female for each of the three NCAA divisions, the NAIA and the NJCAA).
Nominations are open to the public. Coaches and sports information directors are encouraged to nominate their student-athletes; as are student-athletes, their families and friends, and fans of their programs. Nominated athletes are noticed before those athletes found through searching TFRRS.
The award seeks to highlight not only the very best times, marks and scores on a week-to-week basis, but also performances that were significant on the national landscape and/or the latest in a series of strong outings. Quality of competition, suspenseful finishes and other factors will also play a role in the decision.
NCAA DIVISION I MEN – Abdirizak Ibrahim, Florida State
Senior | Amarillo, Texas
Abdirizak Ibrahim landed in a great spot.
Ibrahim, who transferred to Florida State from New Mexico this offseason, posted a season-opening victory at the Firetower Project hosted by Appalachain State. The former-Lobo-turned-Seminole won by nearly nine seconds in 23:56.6 to lead a 15-point sweep by Florida State.
The Seminoles are hoping for big things from Ibrahim in 2023. Just two years ago, Ibrahim finished 33rd at the NCAA DI Cross Country Championships when they were held at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee (He was 84th one year ago in Stillwater, Oklahoma).
This is the fourth time that a male athlete from Florida State has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Believe it or not, three of those instances happened after the season’s first weekend: Harry Mulenga took home the program’s first honor back in 2016; Adrian Wildschutt added another in 2021; and now Ibrahim.
NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Addie Engel, Ohio State
Senior | Springfield, Ohio
Addie Engel picked up where she left off.
Engel, who finished first or second in six of the seven meets in which she competed last year, posted back-to-back victories to start 2023. The Ohio State standout took top honors at the Mike Baumer XC Classic in 16:58.1 and then broke the tape first at the Badger Classic in 17:54.4.
Speaking of last year, Engel had a breakout campaign. Engel captured the individual title at the Big Ten Championships, followed that up with a runner-up showing at the Great Lakes Region Championships and then took tenth at the ensuing NCAA DI Cross Country Championships.
This is the second year in a row that Engel has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week to begin the season. Engel previously earned honors on September 12, 2022.
NCAA DIVISION II MEN – Talel Khalfi, Tiffin
Freshman | Kairouan, Tunisia
Talel Khalfi is quickly making a name for himself.
The freshman from Tunisia is undefeated through the first two races of his
collegiate career, most recently posting a dominant victory at the Tiffelberg
Open. He set a program-best mark of 23:40.6 to win by more than one minute and
lead the Dragons to a 1-2-3-4 finish.
This is the third time in program history that a male athlete from Tiffin has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Khalfi joins two-time honoree James Ngandu in 2015 and 2016.
NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Lindsay Cunningham, Winona State
Senior | Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Lindsay Cunningham is in a class of her own.
Cunningham, who finished runner-up last year at the NCAA DII Cross Country Championships, crushed the field at the Green Bay Phoenix Cross Country Open. She covered the 6k tract in 19:51.6 – more than one minute faster than she ran last year at the same meet– to win by more than – you guessed it – one minute over teammate Kaylee Beyer.
Dating back to last year on the grass circuit, Cunningham has been on a tear. Cunningham won six of the seven meets in which she competed during the cross country season, posted five more wins indoors (including one NCAA title) and then four more outdoors (two NCAA titles).
This is the third year in a row that Cunningham has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION III MEN – Michael Skutt, St. Lawrence
Senior | Lake Placid, New York
The course record at the Hamilton College Short Course didn’t stand a chance.
Michael Skutt romped to victory at the Hamilton College Short Course this past weekend in 15:08.2, which shaved nearly nine seconds off the previous all-time best on the 5k tract.
Skutt, who posted his second victory in as many meets, beat teammate Nicholas Lyndaker to the finish line by 14.1 seconds. Between Skutt’s and Lyndaker’s efforts, the Saints finished second in the team standings to Roberts Wesleyan by just one point, 47-48.
This is the second time that a male athlete from St. Lawrence has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Skutt joins Dadley Ogetti, who took home national honors on October 14, 2019.
NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Lauren Bunke, Lebanon Valley
Grad Student | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Make it back-to-back wins for Lauren Bunke.
The Lebanon Valley standout most recently topped a field of 178 runners by more than 12 seconds at the LVC Dutchmen XC Invitational this past weekend when she crossed the finish line in 18:27.7. One week earlier, Bunke cruised to a three-second victory at the Misericordia Invitational in 15:12.3, taking more than one minute off the time she ran there in 2018.
Bunke had a strong year on the track, which quickly parlayed into success on the grass circuit. Back in February, Bunke finished runner-up in the mile at the MAC Indoor Championships before topping the podium at the outdoor meet in the 1500 meters. Between those instances, Bunke PR’d in the 5000 meters to 17:57.73 at the Danny Curan Invitational in March.
This is the second time in program history that a female athlete from Lebanon Valley has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Bunke joins Kesley Patrick, who snagged national weekly honors back on September 8, 2015.
NAIA MEN – Brint Laubach, The Master’s (Calif.)
Grad Student | Palmdale, California
Brint Laubach picked up the first win of his collegiate career in a big way.
Laubach outdistanced the field at the Biola Invitational on his way to a 21-second victory in 24:44.5. He and four other athletes, including eventual runner-up Senzo Sokhela of Westmont (Cailf.), were lockstep through 5k before Laubach pulled away over the final 3k of the race.
The Master’s (Calif.) finished third last year at the NAIA Championships with Laubach taking tenth place individually. If Laubach continues this upward trajectory, chances are the Mustangs will be a good spot come November in Fort Vancouver, Washington.
This is the first time in program history that a male athlete from The Master’s (Cailf.) has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NAIA WOMEN – Hannah Fredericks, The Master’s (Calif.)
Junior | Santa Clarita, California
Hannah Fredericks couldn’t be caught at the Biola Invitational.
Fredericks galloped to a 23-second victory this past weekend and led The Master’s (Calif.) to the team title over NCAA DII No. 18 Biola, 28-38. She took off from the start and never looked back, going up by nearly ten seconds at the first split and then by nearly 30 at the second checkpoint.
This is the first time in program history that a female athlete from The Master’s (Calif.) has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NJCAA DIVISION I MEN – Adem Bouldjadj, Butler (Kan.) CC
Freshman | Jijel, Algeria
Adem Bouldjadj left no doubt in his first race for Butler (Kan.) CC.
Bouldjadj bolted to the lead in the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic, clocking a time of 19:19.9 for the 4-mile course to win by a whopping 54.1 seconds. The Grizzlies finished fifth as a team (second-highest among JUCO squads) with 120 points.
Bouldjadj is the second male athlete from Butler to be named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week for cross country.
NJCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Damaris Chewon, New Mexico JC
Freshman | Kapsabet, Kenya
It was déjà vu for Damaris Chewon at the Western Texas Open.
Chewon led a 1-5 sweep for No. 2-ranked New Mexico JC, winning the 5K race in 19:59.4 – 1:33 ahead of her nearest pusuer. She won this race last year by an even larger margin – 1:43.9 – while also leading a 1-5 sweep by the T-Birds.
This is Chewon’s third time being named as the M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week for cross country, having twice earned the honor last year. She is the fourth female athlete from New Mexico JC to win this award.
NJCAA DIVISION II MEN – Michael Dennis, Lansing (Mich.) CC
Sophomore | St. Johns, Michigan
Michael Dennis set a course record of 15:28.2 for 5k in winning the Olivet College Comet Open by 10.8 seconds. Dennis led his No. 2-ranked Stars to a score of 20 points in taking team honors as well.
Dennis is the first male athlete from Lansing to be named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week for cross country.
NJCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Olivia Ippel, Lake Michigan CC
Freshman | St. Joseph, Michigan
Olivia Ippel had quite the debut for Lake Michigan CC, winning the Olivet College Comet Open in 18:52.7 for 5K. That was 2.1 seconds ahead of Emme Koutz, a senior at Adrian.
Ippel is the first male or female athlete from Lake Michigan to be named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country.
NJCAA DIVISION III MEN – Parker Stoner, Thaddeus Stevens (Pa.)
Freshman | Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Parker Stoner’s first race for Thaddeus Stevens (Pa.) was impressive, finishing sixth as the leading JUCO runner in the Lebanon Valley College Invitational with a time of 26:25.0 for 8K.
Stoner is the first male athlete from Thaddeus Stevens to be named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week for cross country.
NJCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Kylynn Frankford, Thaddeus Stevens (Pa.)
Sophomore | Leola, Pennsylvania
Kylynn Frankford made a big improvement at the Lebanon Valley College Invitational, finishing 45th as the leading JUCO runner in 21:11.5 for 5K. That was 1:51.9 faster than the next JUCO finisher and 47.5 seconds faster than she ran in the same race last year.
Frankford is the first female athlete from Thaddeus Stevens to be named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week for cross country.